Fresh Lemon Garlic Grilled Salmon Recipe Perfect for Easy Healthy Dinners
A quick and easy grilled salmon recipe featuring a bright lemon garlic marinade paired with tender asparagus, perfect for healthy weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 skin-on salmon fillets (about 6 oz / 170 g each)
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus (about 1 lb / 450 g), trimmed
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs (optional): chopped parsley or dill
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by whisking together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Place salmon fillets skin-side down in a shallow dish and pour half the marinade over them. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Trim the tough ends off the asparagus and toss with the remaining marinade.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (375-400°F / 190-204°C).
- Grill the asparagus for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally until tender-crisp with grill marks. Remove and keep warm.
- Grill the salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes, then flip and grill for another 2-3 minutes until salmon flakes easily but remains moist.
- Remove salmon from grill and let rest for 2 minutes. Plate salmon with asparagus, sprinkle with fresh herbs if desired, and add an extra squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
Do not marinate salmon longer than 15 minutes to avoid the acid cooking the fish and changing its texture. Keep the skin on for easier flipping and to retain moisture. Oil grill grates or brush salmon and asparagus lightly with oil to prevent sticking. Use a meat thermometer to check doneness: 125°F (52°C) for medium-rare, 145°F (63°C) for fully cooked. Leftovers keep well for up to 2 days refrigerated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet (6 o
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 34
Keywords: grilled salmon, lemon garlic salmon, healthy dinner, easy salmon recipe, grilled asparagus, weeknight dinner, quick salmon